Motorcyclists to complete accident victim’s last ride

The 26-year-old lived in Troy and worked as a mechanic at a garage in Rensselaer. He prided himself on taking apart and reassembling motors, his mother, Tracy Thomas, said. He bought and restored old vehicles on the side.

But more than anything, Chris Thomas loved his three young children – Timothy, 7, Jennicka, 4, and Gerard, who was born in June. He looked forward to weekends because that’s when he spent the most time with them.

But Chris Thomas won’t be around to raise his children. His family has created a fund to help provide for them.

The lifelong Troy man died Aug. 25 in a motorcycle accident at Route 9 and the East West Road entrance of Saratoga Spa State Park while driving out of a sold-out Luke Bryan show at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. In a statement days after the accident, police said Chris Thomas and a friend on separate motorcycle may have been moving “in and out of moderate traffic.” The right lane of Route 9 south was blocked off by pylons that evening.

After leaving the concert early to beat the crowds, Chris Thomas and Scott Mancini, 23, of Rensselaer, traveled south on Route 9, and struck an SUV operated by Debra Powell of Northborough, Mass., under a traffic light that had turned yellow at around 10:30 p.m., police said. By “some witness accounts, the motorcycles allegedly sped up to possibly beat the light,” and hit Powell’s vehicle, which had turned left from Route 9 north to enter the park, according to police.

Chris Thomas died of massive chest injuries and a ruptured aorta. Mancini clipped the side of the SUV, and he and a passenger were thrown from his bike and treated for injuries at Albany Medical Center Hospital. No traffic tickets were issued.

But several questions remain about the fatal incident, which is being investigated by the State Police, Tracy Thomas said. “We are anxiously awaiting the official investigation results,” she said. “Everyone who rode with Chris said he was a very careful rider.”

Mancini declined comment through his parents on Wednesday, who cited an ongoing investigation.

The Thomas family has set up a fund and three benefits to help pay for Chris Thomas’ funeral services and provide for his children. They will host a $15 bowling event at Uncle Sam’s Lanes in Troy at 1 p.m. Sunday and a “Hard Core” concert at Bogie’s in Albany on Oct. 27. Donors had pledged $6,266 to the Chris Thomas Family Fund as of Wednesday, with help coming through Tracy Thomas’ co-workers at New York State United Teachers.

Perhaps the most poignant event takes place Sept. 28, when motorcyclists from across the region will ride from the SPAC parking lot to an event in Troy. Riders are asked to donate $10.

“We are going to make the ride complete,” Tracy Thomas said.

– The Christopher Thomas Family Fund can be found at: http://fundly.com/the-chris-thomas-family-fund?ft_pid=btktknqe
– Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/421972794590919/ for information about the Chris Thomas Memorial Bowl-a-Thon. To sign up, send your team name and who is on the team to kryswolf21@yahoo.com
– Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/626149897419083/ for the “Chris’ Ride Home” Memorial Bike Journey. The family seeks donations for raffles, food and baked items.